Support for concrete forms



July 2, 1929- F. A. BECKLEY E1' AL. 1.719.528

SUPPORT 'FowcoNcRE'rE FORMS Filed may 6, 192s 2 .sheets-'sheet 1 fyi lilium /l I l I HioimuJ July 2, 1929- F. A. BECKLEY yE1' AL. 4,1.719.528

SUPPORT FOR CONCRETE FoRlS Filed May 6, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mI-IIII A 61'. Search Patente'cl July 2, '1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

4 FRANK A. BECKLEY, or EVANsroN, AND ARTHUR'G. LAnsoN, or CHICAGO, VYILLINOIS; SAID LARsoN ASSIGNOR oF Two ONE-HUNDREDTHS or HIS RIGHT 'ro sam BECKLEY.

Application led May 6,

This invention relates to the means for supporting forms used in concrete work to maintain the shape of the concrete while it is setting. In concrete work, in ordinary practice,

timbers are employed to support'the forms until the concrete is set and the upper ends of these timbers are generally braced by elements which form a T-head. If the lower floor or other base or support upon which the timbers rest is uneven, imperfection in the work results and this is true if the concrete forms or the supports should shrink or from any other cause unevenness should develop. It is the primary object of the present invention to provide means whereby the forms will be firmly supported andwhich may be readily adjusted so that any possible unevenness due to shrinkage will be overcome and eliminated. It is also an object of the invention to provide a support which may be set up or taken down by a single workman and which, when not in. use, may be easily stored in a small space. It is also an object of the invention to provide a concrete form support which will be durable and may be produced at a cost which is not prohibitive. These stated objects, and other objects which will incidentally appear in the course of the following description, are attained in such a mechanism as f is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.'

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of our invention; i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through a shore or prop constructed in accorda'nce with the invention;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing some of the operating elements separated but in their proper relative positions;

Fig. 4 "s a detail perspective view of the head which may be employed; F Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5-5 of In Fig. 1, we have shown the invention 'arranged to support the form for a concrete beam as well as the form for a ceiling or floor, and in both arangements the support or prop comprises a column which is vertically extensible, and a head for direct engagement with a supporting bar, a brace generally connecting the props so as to brace them against lat- 1926. smal No. 107,209.

eral spreading. The prop comprises a base 1 which 1s placed upon a lower floor or latorm or other fixed support, and this ase consists of a' flat base havin a cup or circular ange 2 on its upper si e ada ted to receive the lower end of a lower tu e 3. The tube 3 [its closely within the flange 2 and is preferabl secured therein by a pin or screw 4 inserte radially through the walls of the flange and the tube, as clearly shown' in Fig. 2. The prop also comprises an upper tube 5 which is of thcsame diameter as the tube 3, and the upper end of this tube 5 fits kclosely within the annular flange 6 on the under side of acap 7. In the upper end of the tube 3 is-snugly fitted a' bearing sleeve or collar 8 having an internally. threaded bore and provided at its. upper end with an annular shoulder or rim 9 which .is adapted to rest upon the upper end edge of the tube 3, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Pins or similar fastening devices, indicated at 10, are inserted through openings provided therefor in the tube and the bearing sleeve so that the sleeve will be held ixedly in the tube and will reinforce the upper end of the same. NormaL' ly resting upon the bearing sleeve 8 is a sleeve nut or turnin head 1 y which has an internall threade bore of he same diameter as the ore of the sleeve 8\`but has its external 'diameter slightly greatei.` than the external diameter of the rim or head 9 of the bearing sleeve. rIhe upper end ot the sleeve nut or turning head 11 is greater in its external diameter than its lower end, as shown at 12, and at diametrically opposite points of the said sleeve nut are radially pro`ecting lugs 13 which constitute handle memlli l handlemembers are vrelatively short so that the are not apt to'be broken when the device is isassembled and perhaps carelessly handled. Moreover, a short handle member offers slight 'obstruction to the passa e of the workman in the neighborhood of t e props or supports so that injuries to the workmen are not apt to occur. Should a longer leverage ers. These v be desired, a pipe or tube may be easily fitted I over either lug 13 in a/n obvious manner. lower end of the upper tube 5 rests directly upon the upper end of the sleeve turning head or nut 11, and, to provide'a Wider bearing surface and also reinforce the lower end of the upper tube, a collar or ring 14 isitted in the lower end of the tube and secured therein by ing co pins or the like, ,a s indicated-at '16l En aged 1n and extending hrough the threaded ores of the bearing s eeve 8 and the sleeve nut 11 is a coreMlVthe ower portion` of which is threaded to mesh with the threads in the bores of the sleeve and the sleeve nut but the upper portion of which is smooth. A pin or the like 18 is inserted through the sleevenut 11- so as to secure the nut in iixed relation to the core and ermit it to be utilized as a turning head. T e upper portion of the core is of sli htly less diameter than the reinforcllar or rin 14 sothat the parts may be easily assemble and possible wear upon the core will be avoided. A guard sleeve or sheath 19 has its upper end fitted around the body of the sleeve nut or turning head 11 and secured thereto by a pin 20, as shown, the said guard sleeve bein of ap reciable length so that it will depen aroundp the lower tube 3 of the prop and thereby prevent the access of concrete or dirt to the lower tube.` The greatler external diameter of the upper end l2 of the turning head also aids in preventin the access of concrete or dirt to the internal orking elements, and it will be noted, particularly upon reference to Fig. 3, that said end 12 is beveled to turn aside any matter falling thereon so that the operative condition of the device will be maintained at all times. The core is provided with an enlarged head 21 at its upper end which serves to prevent separation of the tube 5 and the core, after the parts have been once assembled, by engagement with the inner upper end of the bracin collar or ring 14 in an obvious manner. This head 21 also maintains the vertical axial alinement of the upper tubular member with the lower tubular member and the core so as to resist bending of said elements.

The cap 7 is a substantially U-sha ed member comprising a base 22 from whic the annular flan e 6 depends and side flanges or walls 23 wich rise from the edges of the base or floor 22 in parallel relation. This ca ma iit directl against a timber 24 which 1s utilized as t e main support for planks 25 constituting the false work or form for a floor or ceiling, and openings 26 are provided in the side walls 23 topermit a nail or similar fastenin device to be driven into thetimber 24 where y toprevent relative endwise movement ofthe timber. It is frequently desirable to provides. .more extended support for the false workor concrete form and the invention includes means for furnishing such extended support. A head is fitted t rough and engaged with the cap 7 and said head comprises angle bars 27 arranged in parallel relation and having their side flanges 28 cut away at their centers, as shown, the angle bars being connected in fixed spaced relation by blocks 29 at intermediate points of their length and c by brackets 30 at their ends. The angle bars are so spaced that their base members may g linear form so that they extend through the c a 7 and rest upon the floor 22 thereof with e side walls 23 of the cap fitting in the cut-away ortions ofthe side flanges 28, and the parts s ould be so disf posed that the ends of the walls or flanges 23 abut the ends of theilanges 28 and the ends of the iloorf22 abut the cross bars or blocks 29, endwise movement of the head through the capA being thereby prevented. The cap and head are intended to receive a bar 31 of such dimensions as to fit closely between the flanges 28 and 23, and openings 32 are provided in .the flanges 28 to permit nails or other fastening elements to be driven into the said bar 31 in likeY manner as such fastening devices are driven through the openings 26 in the side Walls or flanges 23.*of the cap. The brackets 30 are each provided with a slot or opening 33 in which is engaged the upper end of a diagonal brace 34, while clips or support ling brackets 35 are provided upon the tube 5 brackets 35, as shown clearly in Fig. 2 and as will be understood. When the stems 36 are cut-away, the ends of the head webs of the braces or T-bars will, of course, be left projecting forming tongues 37 and 38. The tongues 37 are engaged through the slots 33 of the brackets 30 and are then bent in curviconstitute a hinged connection between the respective braces and the-ends of the head, while the tongues 38 are bent into angular relation to the main portion of the respective braces whereby they may depend vertically and be engaged through slots 39 formed in the clips or brackets 35 when the head and the cap are brought intov position over the upper end of the tube 5. These braces will then constitute iirm sup ports for the ends of the head so that the weight of the forms and the green concrete will be eifectually carried and the strain eX- erted by such Weight will be transmitted to the prop or shore in a manner which will resist all tendenc of the forms to assume uneven positions uring the shrinking .which is incidental to the setting of the concrete.

At one or more points on each upper tube 5, we secure loops or clips 40 which are adapted to receive the ends of bracing boards 41 and are provided with openings 42 through which nails or the like may be driven to secure these bracing boards against withdrawal. These bracing boards are extended between two or more alined props or shores and thereb .maintain the props in alinelnent and hold tliem against lateral displacement. The clips or loops 40 are arranged upon different radii of the respective props and also at different points in the height thereof so that the boards may be readily laced in position without interference wit each other. This arran ement also permits the use of a plurality o boards in connection with each prop so that the prop may be braced in dif; ferent directions.

In assembling the shore'or prop, the bracin ring or collar 14 is secured in the lower end o the upper tube 5 and is intended to be retained permanently therein while the bearing-sleeve 8 is also intended to be retained permanently in the upper end of the lower tube 3. The base 1 ma of course, be permanently connected to t e lower end of the tube 3, although it may be sometimes found desirable, in order to save s ace in storage ortransportation, to disassem le these elements. The turning head or sleeve nut 11 is permanently connected with the guard sleeve or sheath 19. When the prop is to be set up for use, the core is inserted through the upper end of the upper tube 5 and the turning ad or sleeve nut is brought into its proper position by engaging the guard sleeve or sheath 19 over the bear- 'ing sleeve 8 and the upper end of the tube 3.

The threaded end of the core may be then engaged in the bore of the turning head and the pin 18 .inserted so as to see-ure these parts together after the proper position of the core in the upper tube has been attained. The head and the cap are then brought into proper relation and fitted on the upper end of the tube 5 with the tongues 38 engaged through the brackets 35, as will be understood. The props are then set up under the timbers 24 or the bars 31, as the case may be, andthe turning head is rotated to effect the proper adjustment and firm engagement of the head and cap with the timber or bar. When the turnin head 11 is rotated .to the right, the core, o course, moves with the head but, owing to its threaded enga ement with the bearing sleeve 8, it will ri e upwardly therein, and the upper tube 5 will then, of course, .move upwardly with the turnin head and the core and the timber 24 or the ar 31, as the case may be, will be held in direct contact with the described concrete form so as to rigidly support the same. When the forms are to be wrecked, the head 11 is, of course, rotated tothe left, thereby effecting a lowering movement of the upper tube 5 and the core. After the proper vertical adjustment of all the props has been effected, the bracing boards 41 are secured in lace and the device will` then need no urt er attention until the concrete has set and dismantling is to be effected. z

It will be noted that the prop or shore of our invention permits the concrete forms to be supported in a true level position notwithstanding any possible unevenness of the lower floor upon which the props rest, and any unevenness whi h may develop through shrinkage may be readily compensated for by adjusting such props as may then be not sustaining the direct contact of the form elements which is desirable for efficient service. While e'ndwis movement of the head through the cap 7 is prevented, the head is not attached to the cap and may be easily lifted therefrom when the parts are to be disaembledfor storage. After the head has been removed from the cap, the braces 34 may be readily swung around so as to lie against the bottom or the top'of the head and thus assume a very compact state which will permit the device to be placed` within a very small space for storage or transportation. Likewise, the main tubes of the prop may be easily sepa.-

rated and placed s1de-by side or otherwise disposed to effect economy in storage space.

The construction of our device is free of complications so that it may be set upand adjusted by one workman and may be produced at a relatively low cost. The working elements are all enclosed so that seeping of concrete or access of dirt thereto is prevented and dripping water will be deflected so that it will not enter to and collect upon the threads of the core or'the parts engaged thereby and corrode the same. We prefer to use a coarse thread of square form inasmuch as such thread permits rapid adjustment of the core and the upper tube, and also serves as a lock to hold the upper tube in its adjusted position. The bearing sleeve 8 provides a bearing surface more extended than would be had if thel turning head rested directly on the upper end of the tube 3 and also`tends to simplicity in therconstruction an-d arrangement of parts whereby the rotary motion of the turning head is converted into endwise movement of the upper tube. When the device is set up for use, it occupies relatively little floor space so that workmen and other persons may move freely around the scene of o erations without bein apt to cause some disarrangement of the orms or their supports and without incurring injury to themselves. When the prop is to be knocked down or disassembled, the core is withdrawn from the lower tube by merely rotating the hea-d 11 and there is no necessity for removing any other parts to eect withdrawal. If the pin 18 be then withdrawn, rotation of the head will cause the core to move endwise so as to be housed in the upper tube.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. Means for the purpose set forth comprising" a prop, a cap carried by the upper end of the prop and having upstanding side walls, and a head extending through said cap and having its ends abutting the ends of the side walls of the cap whereby to beheld against endwise movement, and braces having their upper ends hingedly connected with the under side of the head and their lower ends removably held on the prop.

llO

va head comprising angle members removably engaged lthrough the cap to rest upon the floor of the same and having their side flanges their ends whereby to abut of th abutting the the cap, and braces hinged at their upper ends to the ends of the angle members of the head and having their lower ends removably held on the prop.

3. Means for the purpose set forth comprising a prop, a U-shaped cap carried by the upper end of the prop, a head consisting of angle bars having their lower Webs resting on the fioor of the cap and extending through the cap and their side Webs abutting the ends ofthe cap, brackets connecting said angle members at the ends thereof and provided with dependin portions having slots therethrough, slotte clips on the prop, and braces abutting the upper portions ofthe said slotted clips and the depending portions of the said brackets and provided at their lower ends with straight tongues fitting through the slots ofthe clips and at their upper ends with curvilinear tongues engaged through the slots in the brackets.

. 4. Means for the purpose set forth comprising a prop, a cap carried by the upper end of the prop, a head resting on the oor of `the cap and extending through the cap,

brackets at the ends of the head provided with depending portions having slots therethrough, clips on the prop having outwardly extending members provided with slots therethrough, and braces abutting the upper surfaces of said clips and the depending portions of said brackets and provided at their lowersl ends with straight tongues fitting through the slots of the clips and at their upper ends with curvilinear tongues engaged through the slots in the brackets.

In testimony whereof We afiix our signatures.

FRANK A. BECKLEY. [1.. s] ARTHUR G. LARSON. [1.. s] 

